Beer tapping mechanism



W. BUIRK BEER TAPPING MECHANISM Oct; 22, 1935.

Filed Oct. 1 2,- 1933 2 SheetsSheet l INVENTOR. WILLlAM BUIRK.

ATTORNEY. I x

Oct. 22, 1935. w. BUIRK 2,018,543

BEER TAPPING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 12, 1.933

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v INVENTOR. WILLIAM 'BUIRK.

A TTORNE Y.

1 in the plane of the line Patented Oct. 22. 1935 UNITED STATES. PATENT orrlce V BEER TAPPilZEiZCHAMSM William Buirk, St. Bernard. Ohio Application October 12, 4933, Serial No. 693,329

2 Claims. (01. 225-3) My invention'relates to a new and useful mechanism for dispensing draught beer and provides a. safety device in connection therewith, as well as providing means for returning I the col to the barrel or other container when it is desired or necessary to clean the coils.

Under present conditions it is necessary to clean the coil leading from the barrel to the dispensing faucet at frequent intervals. often necessary while the container or barrel contains a portion of the fluid being dispensed therefrom. In the present method the valve near the barrel is closed and the coil disconnected above the valve and the liquid in the coil drained therefrom into an open vessel. This liquid unless used immediately becomes stale and is entirely wasted. In my improved mechanism I provide means forreturning the liquid in the coil to the barrel prior to disconnecting the coil from the tapping device, whereby the coil can be cleaned at any time regardless of the amount of liquid in the barrel and without the necessary loss of fluid.

The object of my invention is to provide a valve in the air line to the tap' which is so constructed to permit closing of the air inlet and outlet ports; or to provide an uninterrupted free passage of air through the valve; or to provide a free passage of air through the valve with a safety valve in conjunction therewith to relieve any excess pressure from being applied to the contents of the barrel; or to provide closing of the inlet port and maintaining alimited pressure on the contents of the-barrel; or to provide closing of the inlet and safety valve ports and forming an .open connection between the outlet port and a port exposed to the atmosphere to permit venting of the barrel when so desired. A further object is to provide means for disconnecting the air line from the valve whereby a suitable water thief can be attached thereto to make connection with the dispensing faucet for applying pressure to the -liquid in the coil through the dispensing faucet.

My invention will be further readily understood from the following description and claims and from the drawings, in which latter:

Fig. 1 is-a side elevation of my improved device, in connection with a beer tapping mechanism, being partly broken away.

'Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section and my improved valve.

Fig. 3 is a detail section of the valve, talzen 3-3 of Fig. 2. v

Fig. 4 is aside view of my improved valve, and;

Figs. 5, 6, '7 and 8 are detail sectional views showing the various positions of the valve for accomplishing various results.

Beer or other beverages which are contained in barrels or casks are usually cooled by means of a view of the tag,

the liquid in Such cleaning is g the opening I3 is shut cleaning the same,

coil extending either through or about a suitable refrigerant whereby the beverage passing from the barrel to the dispensing faucet passes through the cool coils for serving the beverage cold. Many beverages leave deposits in the coil which require periodic cleaning in order'that clear untainted beverage may be served.

. The cask or barrel containing the beverage is usually located either in the basement or at a point below the dispensing faucet which requires a pressure to be applied to the head of the liquid for forcing the liquid up to the dispensing faucet. Theusual construction now being employed for the purpose of tapping the barrel comprises a tap H having suitable means for locking the tap to the barrel as indicated at I2. This tap has an air inlet opening 13 and a draft tube I l-extending through the tap and down into the barrel Hi. The tube I4 is locked to the tap as indicated at 18 for sealing the tube to the tap. usually inserted between the tube 14 and the coil l1... forms a connection between the coil and the tube and. also permits shutting .off the supply of liquid in the barrel. The liquid in the barrel is forced up through the tube M by air pressure received through the inlet I 3 and down around the tube l 4 to the head of the liquid. The parts thus far described are in usage at the present time and I do not wish to. confine myself to their particular construction as any suitable tapping device can be used with my improved mechanism wherein air under pressure is applied to the head of liquid in the container. Under present conditions, when it is desired to clean the coil, the air to off and the valve I6 closed to prevent the liquid from passing up through the tubes but considerable liquid remains in the coil which is often seventy-five or a hundred feet in length which when disconnected from the valve I6 is drained from the coil and is usually a complete loss to the proprietor.

My invention contemplates means for overcoming this loss by providing an auxiliary valve in the air. line as indicated at 20 whereby when it is desired to disconnect the coil for purposes of the'beverage in the coil can be returned to the cask without the incident loss as by the old method. To accomplishe this I provide the valve 20 with a suitable inlet port 2| and an outlet port 22. There are suitable connections on each end of the valve for connecting the valve to the usual air line 23' which supplies air or gas under pressure from either a suitable compressor or from a tank of carbonated gas and to the tap.

'Extending outward from the air inlet port is a tubular housing 24 arranged to receive a suitable Avalve I6 20 the outlet port 22 is a suitable threaded portion 21 arranged to be received in a threaded projecting extension 28 of the tap II.

The valve housing is provided with a tapered bore 29 in which is desired to when the valve ports 36 and 31are closed.

Under certain conditions it is desirous of havthus preventing undue pressure being applied to the coils which might tend to burst the same.

able coupling thereto with the dispensing faucet 54whereby pressure coil throughcrease in pressure within the barrel will be relieved through the safety valve 38. When it is desired to free the contents of the the liquid down through the coil, or by means of r a hand pump or can readily be cleaned by any of any of the valve whereby it suitable method beverage.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a beer tapping mechanism, the combination of a tap, an air inlet in said tap, a valve hous- 65 ing connected to said air inlet, an air line having connection with said housing, a passage through said housing, a valve plug in said passage, inlet and outlet ports in said housing, auxiliary ports in said housing about said valve plug, one of said ports open to the atmosphere and the other provided with a safety valve, an opening in said valve plug for connecting a plurality of ports and means for operating said valve.

2. A valve comprising a housing, a central open- 

